TIMBER TRANSPORT. 53 



taking, and it is probable that, in the present 

 state of our hill forests, the necessary outlay would 

 hardly be justified, excepting, perhaps, in some 

 tributary streams ; but, sooner or later, it must be 

 taken in hand, if we are ever to get a large revenue 

 from our hill forests. 



Some of our hill divisions represent an area of 

 not less than 500 square miles, equal to 320,000 

 acres, and allowing that 100,000 acres only of 

 this were untrammelled forest land, and capable 

 of being clothed with timber, 30 cubic feet per 

 acre per annum, or 3,000,000 cubic feet, is only a 

 moderate out-turn, and quite within the capabilities 

 of such a tract. * 



Such a tract would be equal to five miles on 

 either side of a river fifty miles in length, giving, 

 say, with all its sinuosities, 100 miles of river to 

 clear. Now a tax of an anna per cubic foot on 

 3,000,000 cubic feet would give 187,500 rupees, 

 equal to the interest at 5 per cent, on a first outlay 

 of 20 lacs, and leaving 87,500 for annual repairs ; 

 that is to say, 20,000 rupees per mile might be 

 spent in bringing the river into order, and 

 875 rupees per mile per annum for maintaining 

 it. But when we look at the short and shaken 



* In Hanover, a forest area of 1,184,424 morgen, equal to about 

 840,000 acres, gives a yearly out-turn of 44,686,400 cubic feet, or 

 over 50 cubic feet per acre. 



